Bottom Line:
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the survival, efficacy and safety of a modified RADPLAT-like protocol using carboplatin instead of cisplatin.Forty-four (98%) of the 45 patients who completed the protocol and 10 (91%) of the 11 who did not, were free of disease at the end of the treatment, for a comprehensive 96% of CR overall.Haematological and non-haematological toxicities are virtually similar, but carboplatin has the advantage in that it is not nephrotoxic and can be used at very high doses without any significant increase in the extent of side effects.

Results: Two major and 4 minor complications were observed. Forty-five of the 56 patients (80%) completed the protocol, while 11 (20%) patients had to discontinue the intra-arterial infusions due to the occurrence of severe haematological toxicity, but were able to complete radiotherapy. Forty-four (98%) of the 45 patients who completed the protocol and 10 (91%) of the 11 who did not, were free of disease at the end of the treatment, for a comprehensive 96% of CR overall. After a median 23.55 months (range: 2 to 58 months) of follow-up, 40 patients (71%) are alive and disease-free, 1 (2%) is alive but affected by disease and 15 (27%) have died of the disease or other causes.

Conclusion: Intra-arterial carboplatin administration with concurrent three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy seems to be a promising alternative to RADPLAT in the treatment of advanced head and neck tumours. Haematological and non-haematological toxicities are virtually similar, but carboplatin has the advantage in that it is not nephrotoxic and can be used at very high doses without any significant increase in the extent of side effects.

Mentions:
The probability of two-year overall survival was 75% (95% CI: 59% - 85%) (Figure 4). Among the factors influencing survival, gender, N status and recurrence were statistically significant. In particular, all the patients who died were male and the presence of a positive neck at the time of diagnosis and/or recurrence were significantly negatively correlated with survival (Figure 5 and 6).

Mentions:
The probability of two-year overall survival was 75% (95% CI: 59% - 85%) (Figure 4). Among the factors influencing survival, gender, N status and recurrence were statistically significant. In particular, all the patients who died were male and the presence of a positive neck at the time of diagnosis and/or recurrence were significantly negatively correlated with survival (Figure 5 and 6).

Bottom Line:
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the survival, efficacy and safety of a modified RADPLAT-like protocol using carboplatin instead of cisplatin.Forty-four (98%) of the 45 patients who completed the protocol and 10 (91%) of the 11 who did not, were free of disease at the end of the treatment, for a comprehensive 96% of CR overall.Haematological and non-haematological toxicities are virtually similar, but carboplatin has the advantage in that it is not nephrotoxic and can be used at very high doses without any significant increase in the extent of side effects.

Results: Two major and 4 minor complications were observed. Forty-five of the 56 patients (80%) completed the protocol, while 11 (20%) patients had to discontinue the intra-arterial infusions due to the occurrence of severe haematological toxicity, but were able to complete radiotherapy. Forty-four (98%) of the 45 patients who completed the protocol and 10 (91%) of the 11 who did not, were free of disease at the end of the treatment, for a comprehensive 96% of CR overall. After a median 23.55 months (range: 2 to 58 months) of follow-up, 40 patients (71%) are alive and disease-free, 1 (2%) is alive but affected by disease and 15 (27%) have died of the disease or other causes.

Conclusion: Intra-arterial carboplatin administration with concurrent three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy seems to be a promising alternative to RADPLAT in the treatment of advanced head and neck tumours. Haematological and non-haematological toxicities are virtually similar, but carboplatin has the advantage in that it is not nephrotoxic and can be used at very high doses without any significant increase in the extent of side effects.